Author: Karolina Pawlik, Maciej F. Bukowski

Energy Efficiency in the Service of Security: Conclusions and Recommendations for the Reform of the White Certificate System analyses the systemic inadequacy of this key mechanism for supporting energy efficiency investments to the realities of energy transformation and national security. In a situation of growing geopolitical tensions, pressure on industrial competitiveness, and new EU commitments, Poland cannot afford the ineffectiveness of a tool that should act as the primary fuel for the transformation.

The report shows that the current white certificate system model, formally in operation since 2016, fails to generate the required energy savings and hinders the implementation of national climate goals and EU obligations. The dominance of the substitution fee, lengthy procedures at the Energy Regulatory Office, and the low quality of energy audits undermine its investment and motivational function.

The publication indicates that repairing the system requires not only legislative changes but also a new approach to energy efficiency as a tool for strengthening the state’s resilience. The authors propose a set of specific recommendations, including benchmarking the substitution fee, simplifying the commitment procedures, and incorporating certified external auditors.

This report is about the need not for cosmetic corrections, but for real reform that will allow energy efficiency to act as a strategic buffer against energy shocks, a tool for industry, and a pillar of modern security policy.

The report is available in Polish language.